Starting and lighting apparatus



v. G. APPLE.

STARTING AND LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. I917 Patented Nov. 8, 1921.. 5SHEETS SHEET 1.

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STARTING AND LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23.19.17.

1,396,004. G Patented Nov. 8. 1921.

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v. 6. APPLE. v STARTING AND LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. 19H- Patented. Nov. 8, 192,1.

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V. G. APPLE.

STARTlNG ANiD LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1917- 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Z,U67 Z22 7" iM/jace/d d ybk Patented Nov. 8, 192] V. G. APPLE.

STARTING AND LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. 1917.

1 96,004, Patented Nov. 8, 1921,

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UNITED STATES VINCENT G. APPLE,

OF DAYTON, OHIO.

STARTING AND LIGHTING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 23, 1917.

To a]? whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINCENT G. APPLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting and LightingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

y invention relates to starting and lighting apparatus forself-propelled vehicles.

One of the objects of my invention is gen erally to improve devices ofthis character and the manner of association of the various partsthereof.

more specific object of my invention is to provide an improved couplingfor the shaft of a dynamo electric machine, and associate parts, wherebythe armature of said machine may be directly but impositively connectedto the propelling engine to increase the effect of its starting torquewithout impairing its operative efficiency, and by the use of which themachine maybe supported on a standard automobile without the necessityof materially changing or disturbing any of the parts of the saidvehicle.

My invention furthermore relates to association of improved devices,most of which are to form subject matter of applications to be hereafterfiled and more specifically described and claimed.

Other, further and more specific objects of my invention will becomereadily apparent to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration ofthe following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 isan elevation of the front end of a standard automobile, withparts in section, showing my starting and lighting system appliedthereto.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the dynamo-electric machine showing parts ofthe connecting mechanism and of the vehicle in section.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the dynamo-electric machine, as it appears whenmounted on the vehicle.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of the dynamo-electric machinetaken 1n a horizontal plane on line .l 4 of ig. 3.

' Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the removable end plate of thedynamo electric machine, taken on line 55 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the end plate looking at the inside portionthereof.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921. Serial u o ieasoa.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section through a part of the end plate, taken online 77 of Fig. 8 is an end view of a portion of the armature spider andthe engine shaft with the end plate removed.

In starting and lighting systems, as heretofore made, so far as I amaware, a train of speed-reducing gearing is invariably employed toconnect the armature of the dynamo to the power shaft of the engine andautomatically operable mechanism has been. heretofore, employed tochange the speed relation of the dynamo and engine when the enginebecomes the driver or vice versa. In some instances, relatively largedynamos have'been mounted on the automobiles with their armaturesdirectly and rigidly con nected to the power shaft of the engine, butthese have been cumbersome machines, necessarily, in order to producethe required initial starting torque and by reason of their lowefficiency coeflicients are undesirable.

In my present invention the dynamo possesses almost unheard ofefliciency; it may therefore be small, light and compact and may readilybe carried on the front end of the automobile with its armature mountedyieldingly but directly on the crank shaft of the engine so as to permitsome initial movement of the armature shaft before the engine shaft ismoved, when the dynamo is the driver. The efficiency of an electricmotor, in starting a load is greater if the armature be permitted topreliminarily move, even though the extent of movement be very small,before the load is imposed upon it. If the armature be rigidly connectedto the load the effect of its torque is not maximum when the armaturemakes its initial movement, in its Effort to overcome the inertia of thestatic loa While I directly connect the armature, of a dynamo electricmachine, to the power shaft of the engine I do not rigidly secure itthereto but provide a yielding connection that permits some relativemovement of the armature, with reference to the power shaft, so that thearmature may move at least a part of a revolution before the load ispicked up. The subject matter of these preiminary statements and otherfeatures of the invention will be sufficiently pointed out 'n thedrawings and more clearly referred to in the following description.

together and ho The specific structures of several of the devices willbe fully described and claimed in the applications to be hereafterfiled.

In the exemplification, depicted in the drawings, wherein I have shownone form my invention may take, 15 is an automobile of the standardtype. 16 is an internal combustion engine. 17 is a power or crankshaftshown in Fig. 4.

The dynamo electric machine 18, for starting the engine and for chargingthe storage battery or batteries to be associated therewith, is securedto and supported on the cross member or beam 19. The field frame 20 ofthe dynamo is provided with rearwardly extending perforated lugs 21 and22, spaced apart so that the perforations in the lugs will register withthe bolts 23 and 24 that extend through the clip-plate 25, of themachine, used to hold the cross member or beam 19 and the front spring26.-together.

The front support 27 is secured in the trunnion block 28, which issecured to the clip plate 25 by bolts 29 and 30. The support 27 isprovided with a rearward extension 31 which is semi-conical in form andwhich is secured to the bottom plate 32, as by rivets, or otherwise.

An armature shaft 33 is supported on ball bearings 34 and 35 within thehub 36 of the field ma net frame 20. The shaft 33 is secured to t hearmature hub 50 of the spider 37 by a key 28. .The front end 39 of theshaft 33, is eccentric to the main portion and is screw threadedexteriorly, as at 40, to receive a threaded nut 41. This nut is providedwith radially projecting lugs 42 and 43, for engagement withthehand-crank starting-lever 44. The shaft 33 is provided with an integralcollar 45 which engages the member 46 of the ball bearing 34, and whichmemberis suitably secured to the shaft. Between the member 46 and asimilar member 47, is a spacing sleeve 48, to hold the ballbearingmembers 46 and 47 in spaced relation in proper positions with respect tosimilar cooperating members 49 and 49', res ectively, that are securedin the hub 36. hen the nut 41 is screwed home on the reduced threadedend 39 of the shaft 33 the hub 50,.

of the spider 37, is forced into contact with the ball bearing member 47which in turn is brought into contact with the sleeve 48 and that with.the ball-bearing member 46 which latter is forced into contact with thecollar 45, thereby tightening thesemembers ding them in spaced relation'in ,a substantial. manner. plate 51 closes the end of the hub 36 and isin substantial contactwith the hub 50 so as to prevent oil or greasefrom the hearing from leaking into the interior of the armaturestructure. Projecting rearwardly of the shaft .33. and, an integral partthereof,

A disk or vided near its outward end with a transversely extending bolt54 and is connected to the engine shaft 17, by means of a double coilspring coupling and 56. The spring is provided with an eye 57 whichsurrounds one end 58 of a transversely extending bolt 17 that passesthrough the shaft 17. The coil spring 56 is provided with another eye 60that surrounds the end of the bolt 54, on the opposite side. of the axisof the main and armature shaft. The coil spring 56 is provided with aneye 61 which surrounds the end 62, of the transverse bolt 17 that passesthrough the engine shaft 17, and at its other end is provided withanother eye 63 that-surrounds the opposite end of the bolt 54. By havinga double spring, each withits eyes on the opposite sides of the axis,when stress or torque is applied to the springs, the shafts 17 and 33 donot receive any stress or strain that tends to throw them out of theirnormal coaxial positions. The flexible connection, provided by thetransmitting springs 55 and 56, will, however, permit some axialdisplacement of the shaft members without imposing a great deal offrictional resistance to their rotation. This flexible connection alsopermits the armature shaft to be rotated, to some extent, before themaximum rotating torque is transmitted from the armature shaft to theengine shaft. A fan pulley 64 is provided with an inturned hub 65, thatfits over the shaft 17, and'a crowning face 66. The face of the pulleyis perforated, as at 67 and 68 for insertion of the transverse pin 17'in the shaft 17. Irto the ends of the transverse pin 17 are driventapered pins 69 and 70 to hold the major pin in place.

Upon the armature spider 37 is mounted an armature core 72 provided withthe usual armature conductors 73 and 74, which extend through the core,or are included in slots therein, and which are connected to commutatorsegments 75 as usual in such structures.

Extending inwardly from the magnetic frame 20, is a series of magneticpoles 76, of which there maybe any desired number, (there being 12 inthe structure illustrated) which are surrounded with shunt fieldwindings 77 and preferably with a differential compound field winding78. I

A front plate 80, forclosing the front end of the field frame, ispreferably molded of insulating material, such as bakalite, or the like.The plate 80 is provided with a series ro ecting axia'lhub 88 which ispreferably 90 for the commutator brushes 91-9l.

I contact that is an integral part thereof. This hub 88 is radiallyslotted to provide guideways 89 and The guide ways 89 and 90 are dividedby a radially extending slot 92 in which the brush connecting wires 93and 93' may freely move to compensate for the wear of the brushes whichare in contact with the inner surface of the commutator 75. In the sameradial plane with each of the brushes 91, 91 is a depression or acylindrical cavity 94, each to contain an open helical spring 95 thatyieldingly holds the respective brushes in contact with the innersurface 7 5' of the commutator 75.

Embedded in the plate 80, or contained in an angular groove 96' is aconducting ring The flexible conducting wires 93, one for each of thebrushes 91', are connected to the ring 97, as by use of a screw 98, orthe like. Another ring, 100, concentric with the ring 97. is containedin a groove 101 in the plate 80, and projecting inwardly in planesparallel to the armature axis. from the ring 100 are a series of studs102 to each of which a flexible brush connected wire 93. is connected,as by a screw 103. A strip 103 extends from or is a part of the ring 97and is embedded in the plate 80. This forms one terminal for theseries-field of the dynamo and also one terminal for the shunt-field ofthe dynamo and is a terminal to which the negative end of the battery orbatteries to be charged may be connected, as will be more clearly shownwhen the circuits are described. The connecting strip 103 is enlarged,as at 104, and is provided with an oblong perforation 105. Another strip106 is provided with a similar terminal end 107. having an oblongperforation 108' overlying a similar perforation in the plate and isembedded therein and in connection with the binding screw108 is theterminal for the other end of the hunt field winding.

The plate- 80 is provided with an axial perforation for containing acurrent regulator 106. The regulator 106 is of the vibrating typeoperable by an electric coil 207 contained therein in connection with aneccentrically rotatable contact 208 in the end of shaft 33 andyieldingly pressed outwardly by a spring 109 for cooperation with themoved by the vibrating regulator element. I will not describein detailthe operation of this regulator as that will form subject matter foranother application to be filed in which it will be more specificallydescribed and claimed.

A binding post or bolt 110 extends rear- Wardly of the dynamo and isinsulatedly supported in a bracket 111 that is attached to the crossmember 19. A wire or cable 112 is connected to the screw threaded bolt110, which forms the battery connection, through the switch, as by a nut113. The cable 112 extends to and is connected with, preferably. acontrolling switch and thereby to the negative terminal of the battery.The front end of the screw threaded binding bolt 110 to which thecontrolling switch is connected, is connected to the binding post 108. Anoninductive resistance element 115. which is adapted to be connected inseries with a controller, or regulator coil 20?, is provided with twoterminals, 116 and 117. The terminal 116 is connected to a binding post108 and the terminal 117 is grounded to the frame, as at 118. A bracket120 is supported on the front end of the dynamo, by the cap screws 84and S5. and is intended for supporting a license plate 121, which issecured thereto by thescrews 123. 124. The bracket 120.'is provided withdownwardly project ing legs 12:") and 126 which serve as means forsupporting the resistance element 115.

Having described my invention. what I claim is 1. In combination with anautomobile chassis having an engine and an engine shaft, of a dynamoelectric machine having its shaft coaxially arranged with the engineshaft and having its frame connected to and supported on the chassis bylugs extending from the back of the dynamo frame and a flexible drivingcoupling inseparably connecting the two shafts to permit initialrotation of the driving shaft before the driven shaft is rotated.

2. In combination with a chassis of an automobile having an engine andan engine shaft. of a dynamo electric machine having its shaft coaxiallyarranged with respect to said engine shaft and a rearwardly extendingears for securing the dynamo to the cross sill of the chassis.

In combination with a chassis of an automobile having an engine and anengine shaft, of a dynamo electric machine having its shaft coaxiallyarranged with respect to the engine shaft. means for securing the dynamoto the chassis comprising a cross sill of a chassis overlvim the frontvehicle spring; clips for holding. the beam and spring together; boltspassing through the clips and ears extending rearwardly from the dynamocasing through which the clip bolts pass to hold the dynamo in place andmeans below the cross sill to secure the lower portion of the casingtothe cross sillj 4. In combination with a chassis of an automobile havingan engine and an engine shaft. of a dynamo electric machine having itsshaft coaxially arranged with respect to the engine shaft; means dynamoto the chassis comprising a cross sill of the chassis overlyingthe-front vehicle spring: clips for holding the sill and springtogether; bolts passing through the clips; ears extending rearwardlyfrom the dynamo casing through which the clip bolts pass to for securingthe a projections from the rear hold the dynamo in place; a bracketsecured to the cross sill; and an insulated stud projecting rearwardlyfrom the lower portion the dynamo casingthrough said bracket forming oneterminal of the dynamo and means for securing it to the sill.

5. In combination with a chassis having an inverted channel bar forminga cross sill and a spring partly encompassed by said sill; clips havingears provided with holes to receive attaching bolts to hold the springand sill together, one on each side of a longitudinal median line of thechassis; of a dynamo electric machine casing having rearvrardlyprojecting ears registering with the perforations in the said clips toreceive said bolts to hold the dynamo in place and means below the crosssill to engage the lower portion of the dynamo casing to maintain saidcasing in place.

6. In combination with a chassis, of a dynamo electric machine having aninsulated stud projecting rearwardly from the bottom portion of thecasing and serving as means to secure the casing to the chassis and asone electric terminal for the dynamo and other me projecting rearwardlyfrom the said casii-g above said insulated stud for securing the upperportion of the casing to said' chassis '3. In com nation with a chassisof an automobile lining an engine located thereon, of a dynamo electricmachine having its shaft in alincment with the engine shaft; portion ofthe dynamo casing, one on each side of its axis to secure the dynamo tothe chassis and an insulated terminal stud in a vertical plane with theaxis of the dynamo and projecting rearwardly from the casing as anadditional means to secure the dynamo to the chassis.

8. In combination with, a chassis of an automobile, of an engine mountedthereon; a dynamo electric machine mounted on the chassis with its shaftcoaxially with the engine shaft and a yielding spring connection betweensaid shafts.

9. In combination with a chassis of an automobile, of an engine mountedthereon; a dynamo electric machine mounted on the chassis having asingle shaft bearing; a shaft in said bearing; an armature on the innerend of said shaft and a yielding spring connection between the outer endof said shaft and the engine shaft.

10. In combination with a chassis of an automobile, having a front crosssill, of a dynamo electric machine provided with supporting partsengaging the upper part of the sill and an insulated supportengaging thelower part of the sill and rearwardly extending shaft for connectionwith an engine shaft.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence'of twosubscribing witn'esses.

VINCENT G. APPLE. In the presence of-- E. V. MARTIN, R. E. FLEMING.

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